Chick & Joanna At The Narrowbacks

Inwood’s own John Charles “Chick” Donohue, co author with former New York Daily News columnist Joanna Molloy of “The Greatest Beer Run Ever: A True Story of Friendship Stronger Than War” ((https://www.amazon.com/Greatest-Beer-Run-Ever-Friendship-ebook/dp/B06XGX287T/), gave his first official book signing at the monthly meeting of the “Narrowbacks” (PFC Thomas Minogue Chapter) , May 18, 2017 at the “Heritage” (960 McLean Ave, Yonkers, NY (914) 776–7532). The Narrowbacks meet monthly on the third Thursday of each month.

The story, dealing with Chick’s delivery, as a civilian Merchant Marine, of beer to other Inwood natives, serving in the military in Vietnam during the war is a tale of bravery, camaraderie, dedication, and, possibility, blatant stupidity (hitchhiking through war zones). It has already been the subject of a short video, sponsored by Pabst Blue Ribbon, “The Greatest Beer Run Ever” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4WAUmyKDq0). The book is available on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Greatest-Beer-Run-Ever-Friendship-ebook/dp/B06XGX287T/) in three formats:Hardcover — $14.99; Paperback — $9.99; and Kindle — $4.99. If anything, I think the book, a great read, is well under-priced — Joanna does an incredible job of capturing Chick’s “voice”.

Of the approximate 50 in attendance, Inwood was well represented by Jack Minogue, Tom Hanlon, Bill Wall, Artie Burns, and Jim Finn, as well as Barbara McMullen & me. As part of the preliminaries to Chick’s presentation, I read my latest poem, “Pall Mall’s Revenge” (https://medium.com/@johnmac13/pall-malls-revenge-95e7ae5b6e4).

I can’t recommend this book strongly enough — it is a wonderful quick read, highly recommended by Malachy McCourt and novelist Thomas Kelly, and the price is certainly right.